FOCUS: AP Daily Scoop

Bonnie Bodinus and Sheila Weidenbach.

AP Daily Scoop owners, Bonnie Bodinus and Sheila Weidenbach have been business partners and friends for a long time. Weidnebach grew up in Allen Park on Champaign, before moving to a house on Melborne, while Bodinus grew up in Melvindale on Palmer. They now both live in homes in Southgate – each married with two grown children.

In around 1990, Bodinus, 56, worked at Baskin Robbins in Allen Park as a cake decorator. Eventually she left and went on to work for Kimberly-Clarke. Meanwhile, Weidenbach, 54, worked for Duracell servicing battery displays at local stores. It was during this time that they became very close friends.

When Baskin Robbins went up for sale, Bodinus wanted to buy it, and Weidenbach asked her if she wanted her to partner with her.

“My family warned me that if friends go into business together, it could ruin a friendship,” Weidenbach joked. But twelve years later, the sister-like friendship is as strong as ever.

In 1996, they purchased the Baskin Robbins in Allen Park -- and for the next ten years they never looked back. But in 2006, when the BR franchise made what Bodinus and Weidenbach felt were unreasonable financial demands, they chose not to participate and opened AP Daily Scoop in the summer of 2008.

“We loved our clientele and regulars and wanted to stay nearby, so we opened in Allen Park,” Weidenbach explained.

Michigan products

AP Daily Scoop serves only delicious Michigan-made ice creams. It is not only superior in taste and quality, but it also allows customers to support Michigan’s economy.

Independent Ice Cream has been made fresh in Monroe for over 60 years, while Ashby Sterling Ice Cream of Royal Oak has a history dating back to about the same time. Ashby Sterling has been specially formulated for ice cream parlors like AP Daily Scoop. If you haven’t tried these ice creams, you really are missing out. And, since it’s made locally, it tends to cost less!

Michigan’s Sanders hot fudge and popular cream puffs are also featured.

Staff

Over the years AP Daily Scoop has maintained a very low employee low-turnover rate. Former employees Jeremy and Maria went on to get married and raise a family. Some families, like the Scotts, had more than one sibling working for them.

Services

Besides delicious ice cream, Bonnie and Sheila’s AP Daily Scoop hosts kids’ birthday parties, complete with pizza and a free cake for the guest of honor. The party guests get to make (and eat!) their own sundaes.

Ice cream cakes also can be personalized for any occasion – while you wait, or special orders. APDS also serves brownies, petite fours, soft-serve ice cream, protein shakes, frozen bananas, Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, and much more.

The mural by Amber Crowe.

Don’t forget to bring your canine companion in for a FREE doggie cone.

“We love dogs,” declared Weidenbach. “We love to feed them.”

The mural

On the north wall inside AP Daily Scoop is a mural of three young people enjoying ice cream. Two of them are caricatures of Bonnie and Sheila (and an unknown third person). The mural was painted by Amber Crowe in 2008. It took her about 28 hours to complete.

Community is key

Sheila Weidenbach made this quilt for the AP Fire Department.

Bodinus and Weidenbach believe in community. They support the following either financially, or by volunteering: Read at Night, through the local elementary schools, APAC baseball teams, Allen Park Fire Department, Oscar Night at Southgate MJR theatre, Doggie Day, fundraisers for Relay for Life and sick children.

Customer service

“We love our customers,” confesses Weidenbach, “and kids all get free balloons.”

Come in for a full-sized scoop for only 99 cents all day Tuesday and Friday. Look for their calendar of features, specials, raffles and events.

Vote for AP Daily Scoop in the News Herald’s BEST of DOWNRIVER contest [vote here].

FocusALLENPARK.com thanks Bonnie and Sheila for their support, and for the support they give their town. Visit the AP Daily Scoop page.